Release Detail

June 28, 2000 - Bush Closes Gap With Gore Among New Jersey Voters,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Corzine Has Big Lead Over Franks, With Many Undecided

Texas Gov. George W. Bush has closed a 13-point gap with Vice President Al Gore and
the Republican now trails the Democrat 45 - 40 percent among New Jersey voters, according to
a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. In a March 30 poll by the independent Quinnipiac
University, Gore led Bush 50 - 37 percent.

If the Reform Party's Pat Buchanan and the Green Party's Ralph Nader are in the race,
Gore edges Bush 41 - 37 percent, with 7 percent for Nader and 3 percent for Buchanan.

"The national trends favoring George W. Bush are playing out in New Jersey. It makes
the Garden State all the more critical for victory," said Quinnipiac University Political Science
Professor Scott McLean.

"Bush has come back from a 13-point deficit in March to make it a very close race. A
big factor in that shift for Bush in New Jersey has been men. In March, Bush trailed among
men and today he leads by 7 points. Perhaps Bush has won back men who were left with a bad
taste in their mouths after the nasty primary campaign with Senator McCain.

"Meanwhile, Gore has to be worried about losing 7 points of his advantage among
women since March. They have not necessarily become Bush supporters, but he has to bring
them back home if he wants to win in New Jersey.

Gore's favorability among New Jersey voters is split at 33 - 33 percent, with 26 percent
mixed and 7 percent saying they have not heard enough to form an opinion. This is unchanged
from the findings in the March 30 Quinnipiac University poll.

Bush's favorability is slightly negative at 30 - 34 percent, with 26 percent mixed and 9
percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion. This is an improvement from
his negative 25 - 41 percent favorability March 30.
Senate Race

By a 26 - 17 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Corzine, with 28 percent
mixed and 28 percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Franks' favorability is 12 - 7 percent, with 17 percent mixed and 62 percent saying they
haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Asked to identify which issues they wanted the Senate candidates to discuss, 35 percent
of New Jersey voters listed "taxes" in some form, followed by 29 percent who listed
"education" and 23 percent who listed "healthcare/costs/insurance/HMOs."

Asked about the candidates' experience, 42 percent of voters say Corzine has the right
kind of experience to be a Senator, while 25 percent say he doesn't and 33 percent are
undecided.

Franks also has the right kind of experience to be a Senator, 42 percent say, while 11
percent say he doesn't and 48 percent are undecided.

"The name recognition and publicity Corzine generated for his nomination battle against
Florio is now paying big dividends. Still, 23 percent of the voters don't know who to support
right now. So even though most voters don't know Bob Franks today, things will certainly
change by November," Dr. McLean said.

From June 20- 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,004 New Jersey registered voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu or (203) 582-520

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Whitman is handling
her job as Governor of New Jersey?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 54% 71% 46% 52% 54% 55%

Disapprove 34 21 41 37 34 35

DK/NA 12 8 13 11 12 11

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling
his job as President?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 59% 26% 86% 57% 56% 62%

Disapprove 38 71 11 39 42 34

DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2 4

3. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign
for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all?

9. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al
Gore the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican, Pat Buchanan the Reform Party
candidate and Ralph Nader the Green Party candidate for whom would you vote?

15. If the election for United States Senator were being held today,
and the candidates were Jon Corzine the Democrat and Bob Franks the
Republican for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Corzine 46% 21% 71% 44% 43% 49%
Franks 26 58 6 24 33 21

WLDN'T VOTE (VOL) 5 3 5 4 4 5
DK/NA 23 18 18 28 20 25

16. What are the issues or problems that you most want to hear the candidates for
United States Senator from New Jersey talk about during the campaign? (Column
percentages may add up to more than 100% because up to 3 responses were allowed)